Have a favorite tortuous-path etymology? I'm fond of 'tabby' and 'album', as applied to a collection of music, particularly in one of the new formats.Also, how about curious cousins, like 'hearse' and 'rehearse', not to mention 'vagina' and 'vanilla'?

'Tawdry' is good, but I was looking for less straightforward derivations. The English seem to have a penchant for elision in names. Think 'Bedlam' and 'Sinjin' (St. John), not to mention 'Fanshaw' (Featherstonhaugh).Forgot 'Chumley' before. Spelled 'Cholmondeley'.